Emsam - Emsam Advantages

Emsam Advantages

Due mainly to the availability of the newer SSRIs and SNRIs, which are viewed to have more medically benign side effects in the treatment of depression, psychopharmacologists and psychiatrists have avoided prescribing MAOIs because of the possibility of hypertensive crisis and other troublesome side effects such as medication and diet interactions. With Emsam, taken at the lowest dose of 6 mg. every 24 hours, no dietary modifications are required by the FDA, and the chance of such a side effect due to diet is eliminated. The FDA requirement for dietary modifications for the 9 mg and 12 mg doses are based on theoretical concerns, as no adverse events due to diet have ever been reported.

In addition to the lack of dietary restrictions at the 6 mg/24h dose, Emsam offers another benefit. It is a continuous delivery system, keeping the medication at a steady level in the body over time, although there is no evidence that this makes a difference in terms of the efficacy or side effects of this medication. Generally, oral medication can not keep a steady dose in the blood stream.

Emsam is also valuable in the treatment in some cases of atypical depression where the depression isn't alleviated by the more commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), dual serotonin and norepinephrine reupatake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

Somewhat surprisingly, clinical trials done with MAOIs do not find that they are more effective than other antidepressants when they are tested in large groups of people. However, for certain individuals, especially individuals who have not done well on other antidepressants, an MAOI may be best. MAOIs are thought to be particularly effective in what has been called "atypical" depression. Atypical depression is characterized by an increased need for sleep, increased appetite, weight gain, mood reactivity, leaden paraylsis, and sensitivity to rejection.